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Published on: 01/03/2021 08:17 PMReported by: rogerblaxall
A company with Ormskirk roots has discovered that every cloud has a silver lining – despite the toll Covid took on its business last summer.
Mahood Marquees began trading after renting a tent to Ormskirk scouts over 60 years ago in 1959, and the firm’s now well-known and respected throughout the NW, celebrating 43 years in business this summer after its business incorporation in June, 1978.
But Covid saw it facing its toughest ever challenge which threatened its steady expansion in the wedding, corporate and leisure markets.
This time last year, the future looked bright with a large order book for events in summer 2020 – but by late spring MD Richard Mahood knew that some pretty drastic changes would have to be made as the first lockdown struck the hospitality and leisure sectors. Unfortunately, seven staff had to be made redundant after 80 per cent of jobs were cancelled or postponed between February and April.
Said Richard in an exclusive interview with QLocal’s Roger Blaxall: “We had to re-invent Mahood Marquees and radically change the direction of our traditional business model.
“We installed our first ‘testing ‘ centre in June and haven’t looked back since thanks to some great teamwork behind the scenes.
The company won a game changing contract to provide testing centres at 10 of the main British airports, and that was followed by approaches from premiership football clubs who needed marquees for social distancing, changing rooms and gyms. That saw it work with some of the biggest names in the game including Man. United, Man. City, Liverpool and Burnley.
The good news continued as the firm won the contract to install marquees for one of six national vaccine centres at the Etihad in Manchester.
“Work like this has ensured our survival during the pandemic when it was looking pretty bleak,” added Richard of Halsall, pictured here with staff Jamie and Paul.
The firm’s now based in purpose-built premises in Rainford and Richard added on Thursday: “I’m amazed at what we have achieved in such a short time.”
“We needed to adapt to survive and it’s by working together as a team that we have been able to move forward.
“We know that the Covid work will not last forever but it has taught us some valuable lessons about dealing with a business crisis and coming through the other side.”
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